Method of taking a picture without glare

Abstract

A glare reducing optical recognition system that recognizes alphanumeric text wherein the system includes a first light emitter that emits light in a first direction and a second light emitter that emits light in a second direction different from the first direction. The system includes an image capturing device that captures a first image of alphanumeric text illuminated by the first light emitter emitting light in the first direction, and a second image of the alphanumeric text illuminated by the second light emitter emitting light in the second direction. The system includes an image processor that constructs a glare reduced image by comparing sections of the first image with corresponding sections of the second image and selecting the section with the least luminosity to populate the corresponding section of the glare reduced image. The system may include a character recognition processor, a label producing apparatus, and/or a conveyance system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A glare reducing optical recognition system for recognizing alphanumeric text, comprising:
 a first light emitter configured and arranged to emit light in a first direction; 
 a second light emitter configured and arranged to emit light in a second direction different from the first direction; 
 an image capturing device configured to capture:
 a first image of alphanumeric text illuminated by the first light emitter emitting light in the first direction, and 
 a second image of the alphanumeric text illuminated by the second light emitter emitting light in the second direction; 
 
 an image processor configured to construct a glare reduced image by comparing sections of the first image with corresponding sections of the second image and selecting the section with the least luminosity to populate the corresponding section of the glare reduced image; and 
 a character recognition processor configured to automatically perform optical character recognition on alphanumeric text contained within the glare reduced image produced by said image capturing device. 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said alphanumeric text is coupled to an object and the system further comprises an association processor configured and arranged to associate identification information of said object with information obtained from the optical character recognition of the alphanumeric text. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said alphanumeric text is address information and said identification information is a zip code determined from said address information. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a central light ray emitted from the first light emitter at the first direction forms an angle of between forty-five and one hundred and thirty-five degrees with the central light ray emitted from the second light emitter in the second direction. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said angle is between seventy and one hundred and ten degrees. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said angle is about ninety degrees. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first image and the second image are of a substantially same target area. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 1 , also comprising a hood configured and arranged to inhibit ambient light from reaching the alphanumeric text. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyance system configured and arranged to present multiple examples of alphanumeric text to the image capturing device sequentially. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured and arranged to trigger the capture of images when alphanumeric text is within the field of view of the image capturing device. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the image processor compares pixels between the first image and second image. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the image capturing device is configured to capture images at varying focal lengths. 
     
     
       13. A glare reducing optical capture system for addressed mail items that are weighed, comprising:
 a platform having a sensor configured and arranged to detect changes in weight caused by addressed mail parcels placed upon the platform; 
 a first light emitter configured and arranged to emit light in a first direction; 
 a second light emitter configured and arranged to emit light in a second direction different from the first direction; 
 an image capturing device configured to capture:
 a first image of the address of a parcel of said addressed mail parcels illuminated by the first light emitter emitting light in the first direction, and 
 a second image of the address of a parcel of said addressed mail parcels illuminated by the second light emitter emitting light in the second direction; and 
 
 an image processor configured to construct a glare reduced image by comparing sections of the first image with corresponding sections of the second image and selecting the section with the least luminosity to populate the corresponding section of the glare reduced image. 
 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising an association processor configured and arranged to associate weight information of a parcel of the addressed mail parcels with information obtained from optical character recognition of the address of the parcel. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said first image is captured in response to changes of weight sensed by the sensor. 
     
     
       16. A method for capturing a glare reduced image and processing the same, comprising:
 a. positioning alphanumeric text within a field of view of an image capturing device; 
 b. illuminating the alphanumeric text with light emitted from a first light emitter configured and arranged to emit light in a first direction; 
 c. capturing a first image of the alphanumeric text when the alphanumeric text is illuminated by the first light emitter with an image capturing device; 
 d. illuminating the alphanumeric text with light emitted from a second light emitter configured and arranged to emit light in a second direction different from the first direction; 
 e. capturing a second image of the alphanumeric text when the alphanumeric text is illuminated by the second light emitter with the image capturing device; and 
 f. creating a glare reduced image of the alphanumeric text by comparing corresponding sections of the first image and the second image and selecting the section with the least luminosity to populate the corresponding section of the glare reduced image. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein multiple alphanumeric texts are captured, each alphanumeric text having a corresponding captured first image, second image, and glare reduced image. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the sequence of illuminating the first light emitter and the second light emitter for subsequent alphanumeric texts follows the following pattern:
 a. first alphanumeric text image capture process: first light emitter used to capture first image, second light emitter used to capture second image; and 
 b. second alphanumeric text image capture process: second light emitter used to capture first image, first light emitter used to capture second image. 
 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the alphanumeric text is substantially stationary compared to the image capturing device during the capture of both the first image and the second image. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the capture of the first image is automatic in response to a sensor. 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the light emitted from the first light emitter is polarized differently than the light emitted by the second light emitter.